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    Home » Recipes » Dessert

    Chocolate Chip Coconut Oatmeal Bar Cookies with Dried Cherries and M&Ms

    Published by Melissa on August 18, 2014 | Updated June 10, 2022 | 24 Comments

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    Featured Image for post Chocolate Chip Coconut Oatmeal Bar Cookies with Dried Cherries and M&Ms

    Thick, rich, chewy bar cookies bursting with delicious add-ins — oatmeal, dried cherries, chocolate chips, coconut, and plain M&Ms. 

    Recently, we went out to dinner with our wonderful backdoor neighbors. While we were waiting for our meals to arrive, they asked about my blog, what I was baking, and told me how much they enjoy the treats I occasionally drop off.

    Then Dennis told me that his all-time favorite cookie was one I brought over three years ago at Christmas time. He went on to describe the cookie in detail, so I knew exactly which cookie was his favorite.

    Chocolate-Chip-Coconut-Cherry-Bars-Collage-2-Babara-Bakes

    The original bar cookies were cut in a star shape, and decorated for Christmas. So I thought it would be fun to share the recipe again with some pretty multi-colored M&Ms, which would be perfect this time of year.

    When I’m making a cookie that has lots of mix-ins added to the dough, I like to mix the add-ins together in a big bowl before adding them to dough. That way your mix-ins are more evenly distributed throughout your cookie dough.

    Chocolate Chip Coconut Oatmeal Bar Cookies with Dried Cherries and M&Ms

    It had been a three years since I’d made these cookies, and I shouldn’t have waited so long. They really are a fantastic, over-the-top delicious, memorable bar cookie.

    Thanks Dennis for the reminder. I hope you enjoyed them as much this time around.

    Featured Image for post Chocolate Chip Coconut Oatmeal Bar Cookies with Dried Cherries and M&Ms
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    Chocolate Chip Coconut Oatmeal Bar Cookies with Dried Cherries and M&Ms

    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time30 mins
    Total Time40 mins
    Course: Bar Cookies
    Keyword: Chocolate, cookie, Dessert
    Servings: 24 bar cookies
    Author: Barbara Schieving
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    Ingredients

    • 2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup 2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
    • 2 cups light brown sugar packed
    • 2 large eggs
    • 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1 ½ cups old-fashioned rolled oats not quick-cooking
    • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
    • 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
    • 1 cup dried cherries cut in half
    • ½ cup M&Ms

    Instructions

    • Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray. Preheat oven to 350° if using a metal pan or 325° using a glass pan.
    • In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
    • In a large mixing bowl mix the butter and brown sugar on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the eggs one at a time mix until well blended. Mix in the vanilla.
    • Add the dry ingredients and mix just until blended. Stir in the oats, chocolate chips, coconut and cherries.
    • Spread the batter in the prepared pan and sprinkle M&Ms on top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. (Don’t overcook.)
    • Cool on a rack to room temperature before cutting.
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    About Melissa & Barbara

    As of June 2022 Melissa Griffiths now is the one adding recipes. So think of it as Barbara Bakes, and Melissa too! Melissa and Barbara have been blogging friends for over 10 years and when Barbara was ready to retire and spend more time with her family, Melissa took over the site. Read more...

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Haley

      March 10, 2015 at 10:20 am

      Made these two days ago. I followed the recipe precisely, except I omitted the cranberries and used white chips in placement of the M&Ms.
      Fantastic! They were chewy and soft, the perfect density. I love oats and coconut together for the great texture.
      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Sheryl

        September 20, 2016 at 3:11 pm

        These squares are amazing. I only had white chocolate so I used that in the recipe. I think only for contrast I will use dark chocolate next time. I omitted the M*M’s on the squares. The texture is perfect. They are so chewy and yummy. Will make again.

        Reply
        • Barbara Schieving

          September 20, 2016 at 3:32 pm

          Thanks ladies! Sound like delicious changes.

          Reply
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